Apparatus for cementing wells



Sept. 10, 1-940. L. H. HAYWARD ET- AL 2,214,555

APPARATUS FOR GEMENTING WELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTORS, I In 0.

14 /& 72y? &

Filed March 22, 1938 ATTORNEY.

9 0, 1940- L. H. HAYWARD i-rr AL 2,214,555

APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed March 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll'l/ I H k l7 L p E l x f 21 2 l 5 J a I Q INVENTORS /J' /J'/ ,qgg d I BY8: w W

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 r UNITED STATES mm'rus Fon onnmnrma warms Landes11. Hayward, Los Angelea and Charles 0.

Harper, Inglewood, Calif.; said Harper alslgnor' tosaid HaywardApplication ms 2:, 193a, Serial No. 191,392

Claims.

In substantially all of the known multiple stage cementing devices, thecementitious material is forced through radial discharge openingsdirectly into the space between the cementing 5 device or casing and thewalls of the hole. In-

stead of being distributed uniformly around the device or casing in theregion of the discharge openings, the cementitious material tends tochannel through the drilling fluid contained in l thewell bore, leavingintermediate bodies of said I drilling fluid which subsequently hardens.The

presence of such solidified drilling fluid will permit seepage of watersor other undesirable materials back into the casing through the radialopenings to contaminate the oil flowing in the well and also permit thepassage of fluids from the interior of the casing outwardly through thedischarge openings and solidifled drilling fluid. The extent of seepagewill be enhanced by the I inability of the presently used multiple stagecementing devices to distribute the cementitious 'material below theradial discharge openings due to the tendency of the material to move ina path of least resistance upwardly therefrom,

25 caused by the progressively decreasing fluid pressure from thedischarge openings to the surface.

Such lack of cementitious material will permitfi seepage of water intothe casing from points below the position of the cementing device.

30 Attempts have heretofore been made to prevent reverse flow of thecementitious material and of the waters, by associating one way pressureactuated valve devices with the discharge openings. These expedientshave proved imsatis- 35 factory, since the presence of foreign matter,

or the cement itself, tends to prevent their closing or the valvedevices themselves may be entirely cut away.

Among the features of the present invention 40 is to obviate theforegoing disadvantages of the prior art devices. Itntherefore becomesan obiect of the invention to provide a well cementing device which willensure a, complete cementitious seal between the openings fordischarging 4s cementitious-material into the space between the casingand walls of the bore, or another casing within which the device isconflned.

A further object of the invention lies in th provision of a wellcementing device capable of so producing a circumferentially uniformdischarge of cementitious material from the outlet end of the device tothe space between'the casing and walls of the bore, or another casingwithinwhich the device is conflned.

55 Another object of the invention is the provision 01' a well cementingdevice which will ensure a eircumferentially uniform discharge ofcementitious material from the outlet end of the device byeifecting auniform circumferential dispersion of the material within the deviceprior to its 5 discharge.

\ Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of avalve mechanism positively operable from the surface of the bore forcontrolling the discharge of material from the cel0 menting device intothe bore or other confining casing.

A further biect of the invention is to provide a valve echanismpositively operable from the surface of the bore for controlling thedis- 1 charge of material from the cementing device into the bore, saidcontrol being assisted bythe action of gravity and/or friction'on thewell casing to which the device is attached. I

A further object of the invention is tov provide a sealing mechanismpositively operable from the surface of the bore for preventing reverseflow of fluid cementitious material through the cementing device.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of asealing mechanism positively controllable from the surface of the borefor preventing reverse flow of fluid cementitious material through thecementing device, said sealing being assisted by the action of gravityon the well casing to which the device is attached.

Still another object of the invention contemplates a well cementingdevice capable of performing its functions both in upright and invertedpositions. This invention possesses many other advantages and has otherobjects which will be made more easily apparent from a consideration ofthe embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and forming apart of the present specification. We shall now proceed to describethese forms in detail which illustrate the general principles of ourinvention; but it is to be understood that this descri on is not to betaken in a limiting sense, since e scope of the invention is bestdeflned by the appended claims.

1 Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, portions ofwhich are shown in elevation.

Figurezisaviewsimilartol igure lshowing. parts of the device in adifl'erent position of go adjustment.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing parts of the device instill another position of adjustment.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view parsection l3 through acoupling l4 into which the tube and casing ends are threaded. The tubingcarries a ring l5 threaded onto its upper end which serves to adjustablyconnect it with the hanger sleeve II) by means of the square threads ISon the exterior of the ring |5 interfltting with the complementaryinternal threads l'l formed in'the hanger sleeve I5. Relative rotationbetween the hanger sleeve and tubing l2 will produce movement of thetubing longitudinally of the axis of a well bore within which the casingand cementing device is contained, to accomplish a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The 'tubinglz is provided near its lower end with generally radialdischarge ports 20 normally" closed by an annular valve head 2| whoseinner surface slidably engages the tubing. The valve head 2| is threadedonto the lower end of a valve sleeve 22 surrounding the tubing l2 andhaving its upperend threaded into the hanger sleeve l0. ,When the valvehead 2| is inits closed position as shown in Figure 1, fluid will beprevented from passing between the interior and exterior of the casingstring through the discharge openings 20. Assurance. against suchpassage of fluid is provided by the engagement of the lower taperedportion of the valve head 2| with the annular seats 23 formed on the.frusto-conical coupler 24 threadedly attached to the lower end of thetubing |2 below the discharge openings 20. The valve head 2| ispreferably provided with a lead or other suitable insert 25 which willprovide an efficient fluid tight seal upon application of pressurebetween it and the with respect to the valve head 2|, valve sleeve 22,and hanger sleeve l0, all of which are rigidly interconnected asheretofore described, until the parts become positioned as shown inFigure 2, with the valve head removed from the sealing seats 23 anddisposed above the discharge ports 20 to permit passage of fluidtherethrough. Cementitious material forced downwardly through the casingstring S is thus permitted passage through the discharge ports, butinstead of being permitted to flow directly therefrom into the spacebetween the casing string and the walls of the bore or confining casing(not shown), it is directed through an annular passage 30 defined by adischarge tube 3| threadedly connected to the frusto-conical coupler 24and spaced with respect to the outer surface of the valve sleeve 22. I

The cementitious material is caused to flow through the passage 30 toobviate the defects associated with the aforementioned channeling of thematerial resulting in seepage of waters or other undesirable elementsback into the casing through the discharge ports 20. Due to the extendedannular passage 30, the cementitious material, prior to its emissionfrom the outlet end of the discharge tube 3|, will become uniformlydispersed between the valve sleeve 22 and said discharge tube, toprovide a circumferentially continuous mass of sealing material in saidpassage. Such continuity will insure against the aforementionedundesirable seepage upon hardening of the material. It also results inthe emission of the fluid cementitious material from the discharge tube3| in a circumferentially continuous stream to provide a completefilling of the space between the casing string and walls of the bore,particularly in the region of the dis;

charge end of the tube.

In furtherance of obtaining a circumferentially continuous mass ofsealing material in the passage, the outer surface of the valve sleevecan be tapered outwardly towards the discharge end of the tube, to causethe cementitious material to spread circumferentially during itsmovement through the passage, because of the gradual restriction'to"longitudinal flow of the material.

After the proper quantity of fluid cementitious material has beendischarged through the radial openings 20 and from the outlet end of thetube 3|, its reverse flow is prevented by effecting a seal between anannulus -35 secured to the interior of the discharge tube 3| and anupper portion of the valve head 2|, preferably consisting of a hardenedring insert 36 having an upper edge adapted to be pressed against thelower tapered face 31 on the annulus for efiecting a positive seal. Theseal is produced by a continued rotary movement of the hanger sleeve IIIwith respect to the tubing I2, which will cause the latter element andthe discharge tube 3| connected therewith to move longitudinally of thevalve head 2| until the tapered seat 31 on the annulus engages with theupper edge of the hardened ring insert 36 as disclosed in Figure 3.After the seal is established, the fluid cementitious material isprevented from flowing reversely past the upper portion of the valveheadjl. Upon hardening, a solid cementitious seal will be obtained inthe passage 30 between the discharge tube 3| and valve sleeve 22 toprevent leakage into the casing string, which leakage is furtherprevented by the sealing engagement between the ring insert 36 and thetapered seat 37 on the annulus 35.

When used for cementing at an intermediate stage in a bore, the deviceis lowered thereinto -as part of the casing string, with the dischargeports 2!) closed by the valve head 2|, as shown in Figure 1. This willpermit circulation of drilling mud and fluid cementitious material to alower stage without any leakage of these materials through the dischargeopenings. When it is desired to cement at the stage at which the deviceis positioned, the casing string N thereabove and the hanger sleeve Illattached to it ,will be rotated from the surface preferably in aclockwise direction. Due to its inertia and, resistance to turningoflered by the drilling mud, I

and also possibly by its engagement with the walls of the bore, thecasing depending from the cementing device will be restrained fromrotation,

resulting in relative longitudinal movement between the rotating hangersleeve and the tubing l2 occasioned by the interconnected helicalthreads on the hanger sleeve and ring l5 secured to said tubing. Suchlongitudinal movement will open the valve to the position in Figure 2,permitting the flow of fluid through the dis- 70 f-weight of the tubingi2 and lower casing Under certain conditions, such" as the use of thecementing device as an intermediate part of the casing string, theweight of the string it below the device will assist in theaforementioned longitudinal movements of the tubing l2 and associatedparts withrespectto the hanger sleeve Ill and its associated valvesleeve 22 and valve head 2|. The action of gravity and/or friction uponthe lower casing string I3 will reduce the effort required in obtainingthe necessary relative rotation between the hanger sleeve and tubing;and additionally, it will assist in the maintenance of the sealingengagement between the annulus l5 and the hardened ring insert 36.

The modified form of the invention disclosed in Figures 4 and 5possesses the same general constructional features and mode of operationas the embodiment heretofore described. For that reason the samereference numerals have been applied to similar parts with a prime mark'added in each instance. The essential difference resides in theelimination of the annulus and hardened ring insert for preventingretrograde flow of the fluid cementitious material through the dischargeopenings. Figure 4 shows normally be prevented from unwarrantedreversemovement through the discharge openings 20' by maintainingsuitable pressure upon the fluid within the casing until thecementitious material becomes set. v'lhe cementitious material.

will harden within the discharge tube 3| and the discharge" openings 20.However, should leakage develop within the discharge tube and fail tomaterialize through the discharge openings and the hard cementsurrounding them in their vicinity, the seepage of waters or otherfluids between the valve sleeve 22' and the tubing i2,

' and between the cooperating square threads to pling occuring betweenthe square threads in the hanger sleeve and the threads on the ringmixed to the tubing. This will permit the attached thereto, to apply acompressive effort to the packing through the agency of a clamping ringll, attached to the'square threaded ring I I, to expand the packing llinto sealing engagement with the inner surface of the hanger sleeve Illand the outer surface of the tubing II.

It is to be understood that it is not essential to rotate the hangersleeve III to an extent sunlcient to disengage thercooperating squarethreads l6 and I1 onthe hanger sleeve and ring l8.

Opening of the valve can be efifected with the,

the valve head closes the discharge openings,

which will prevent reverse flow of any matter therethrough. Instead ofpermitting disengagement between the cooperative square threadedportions, the threads in the hanger sleeve could extend sufficiently tomaintain engagement throughout the entire range of movement of thetubing. With this arrangement of parts, the packing could be compressedthrough the advancement of the packing ring occasioned by relativeturning of the hanger sleeve and tubing.

Such compression could be released by reverse rotation of the hangersleeve, which could continue to the point of reclosing the valve, asaforementioned.

We claim:

1. A well cementing device comprising, means .deflning'a passage forconducting cementitious material, means providing a second passagehaving a circumferentially continuous outlet, one or more openings insaid device providing intercommunication between said passages, saidlast mentioned means being of rigid material to withstand forces tendingto deform it and restrict said second passage.

2. A well cementing device comprising, a tubing for conductingcementitious material, a discharge tube providing a passage for saidmaterial having a circumferentialiy continuous outlet, one or moreopenings in said device providing intercommunication between said tubingand discharge tube, said discharge tube being of rigid material towithstand forces tending to deform it and restrict said second passage.

3. A well cementing device comprising, a tubing for conductingcementitious material, a discharge tube providing a passage for saidmaterial having a circumferentialiy continuous outlet, one or moreopenings in said device providing intercommunication between said tubingand discharge tube, means within said passage and positioned betweensaid one or more openings and the outletend of said tube for restrictingthe flow of material therethrough, said discharge tube being of rigidmaterial to withstand forces tending to deform it and restrict saidpassage.

4. A well cementing device comprising, means defining a passage forconducting cementitious material, means providing a circumferentialiycontinuous and convergent ssage, means providing intercommunicationetween, said pas-- sages, said s'econd-meritio'ned means being of rigidmaterial to withstand forces tending to deform it and restrict itspassage.

' 5. A well cementing device comprising a tubing-for conductingcementitious material, a discharge tube providing a passage for saidmaterial, means providing inter-communication between said tubing anddischarge tube, separate means intermediate said tubing and dischargetube deflning a circumierentially continuous and convergent passagebetween said inter-communicating means and the outlet end of saiddischarge tube, said discharge tube being of rigid material to withstandforces tending to deform it and restrict its passage.

6. A well cementing device comprising, means defining a passage forconducting cementitious material, one or more openings in said devicethrough which said material can flow, valve means for controlling thepassage of material throughrsaid one or more openings, and meanspermanently secured to said valve means and positively operable from thesurface of a bore for producing relative movement between said valvemeans and one or more openings, whereby to open or close said openingstocontrol the passage of material therethrough.

'7. A well cementing device comprising a tubing for conductingcementitious material, the side walls of said tubing being provided withone or more openings for the passage of said material, valve meansslideable over said one or more openings for controlling the passage ofmaterial therethrough, and means permanently secured to said valve meansand positively operable from the surface of a bore for producingrelative movement between said valve means and one or more openings,whereby to open or close said openings to control the passage ofmaterial therethrough.

8. A well cementing device comprising, a tubing for conductingcementitious material, said tubing being provided with one ormoreopenings for the passage of said material, valve means forcontrolling the passage of material through said one or more openingssaid means including sealing instrumentalities for preventing leakage offluid when said valve is in closed position, and means permanentlysecured to said valve means and positively, operable from the surface ofa bore for producing relative movement between said valve means and oneor more openings, whereby to open or close said openings to control thepassage of material therethrough and the sealing of saidinstrumentalities.

9. A well cementing device comprising, a, t bing for conductingcementitious material, a discharge tube providing a passage for saidmaterial, said tubing having one or more openingsprovidingintercommunication between it and said discharge tube, valve meanswithin said passage for controlling the passage of material through saidone or more openings, means positively connected with said valve meansand positively controllable from the surface of a bore for producingrelative movement between said valve means and one or niore openings,whereby to control the passage of material therethrough, and cooperablesealing instrumentalities on said valve means and discharge tube forpreventing reverse flow of fluids through said one or more openings.

10. A well cementing device comprising a tubing for conductingcementitious material a 'discharge tube surrounding said tubing andproviding a passage for said material the side walls of said tubinghaving one or more openings providing inter-communication between it andsaiddischarge tube, valve means within said discharge tube slideableover said one or more openings for controlling the passage of materialtherethrough, ineans positively connected with said valve means andpositively controllable from the surface of a bore for producingrelative movement between said valve means and one or more'openings, and

providing intercommunication between it and said discharge tube, a valvehead within said discharge tube for controlling the passage of materialthrough said one or more openings, means including a valve sleevepositively connected with said valve head and positively controllablefrom the surface of a bore for producing relative movement between saidvalve head and said one or more openings, whereby to control the passageof material therethrough, said valve sleeve being positioned within saiddischarge tube in spaced relation with respect thereto to define aconvergent path through which said material can flow.

12. A well cementing device adapted to be attached in a casing string asa part thereof comprising, a tubing for conducting-cementitiousmaterial, one or more openings in said tubing through which saidmaterial can flow, valve means for controlling the passage of materialthrough said one or more openings, and means fixedly connecting saidvalve means and casing string and causing relative movement between saidvalve means and one or more openings upon movement of the casing from.the surface, to open or close said openings to control the passage ofmaterial therethrough.

13. A well cementing device adapted to be attached in a casing string asa part thereof comprising, a tubing for conducting cementitiousmaterial, a discharge tube providing. a passage for said material, saidtubing having one or more openings providing intercommunication betweenit and said discharge tube, valve means within said discharge tube forcontrolling the passage of material through said openings, meanspositively connected with said valve means and operable through motionof the casing string for producing relative movement between said valvemeans and openings, whereby to control the passage of materialtherethrough, and cooperable sealing instrumentalities on said valvemeans and discharge tube for preventing reverse flow of fluids throughsaid openings.

14. A well cementing device comprising a tubing for conductingcementitious material, said .tight seal between said first mentionedmeans and tubing. f

15. A well cementing device comprising a tubing for conductingcementitious material, said tubing having one or "more dischargeopenings therein, a valve head for controlling the passage of materialthrough said openings, means, connected with said valve head andpositively controllable from the sm'face of a bore for providingrelative movement between said valve head and said one or more openingswhereby to control the passage of material therethrough, packa ing meansbetween said means and tubing, and 5 means compressing said packingmeans into sealing engagement with the sides 01' said tubing uponrelative movement between said tubing and said valve head.

16. A well cementing device comprising a tub- 10 ing for conductingcementitious material, said terconnecting said valve head with meanspositively controllable from the surface of a bore for effectingrelative movement between the valve head and one or more dischargeopenings, and means for threadedly interconnecting said hanger sleeveand tubing, whereby to .efl'ect relative movement between said valvehead and one or more openings longitudinally of said tubing uponrelative rotative movement between said hanger sleeve and tubing, tocontrol the passage of material through said one or more dischargeopenings.

LANDES H. HAYWARD. CHARLES O. HARPER.

